AHC/WI: King Richard IV/Perkin Warbeck

But to get to Maximilian, Warbeck has to get the crown. I don't think he can do it. He's not got training, he's an imposter, and I don't think Margaret or Max are going to give him more than moral encouragement. Henry's already proved he can take the crown, Warbeck is a tradesman's son who looked what everyone thought Richard, Duke of York would like at his age. Margaret was the one who backed his pretensions, mostly to piss off Henry VII. Without Margaret's encouragement, Warbeck would never have tried, been captured, tortured and then killed by Henry VII in OTL. (So, I guess Margaret's got blood on her hands.)

Max is a long shot, but precisely for that reason, Max is going to stay out England. He's HRE, he's already got an Empire. Relatives are already negotiating to become part of Henry VII's family. It's easier to take it from within. Why support Warbeck with money and an army? Does Max back an unknown? I don't think so. It's too much a long shot and too much money, men and materials.
 
To be fair, Perkin is a probable imposter. His confession under duress can't be taken too literally.
I agree that his abilities are probably lesser than Henry Tudor's but if we allow Henry some bad luck then Perkin has the noble backing to maintain the charade and allow any claims to the contrary to be taken as propaganda.
 
The challenge is to let Perkin Warbeck be successful, he gets crowned king of England at Westminster, from when he first appeared on the scene at the start of the 1490s. (I think if the Yorkists can avoid watering England under Simnel and the other pretender (the cordwainer's son, can never remember his name) with their blood, they might be in better shape come when Warbeck lands). Bonus points if he can get a royal princess to wife.

Henry Tudor can be exiled or killed in battle, but by 1497 when Warbeck landed, Henry has two sons and two daughters already, so they'd be a lightening rod for dissent to Warbeck as Warwick and Lincoln were for Henry. Plus, by 1497, all of Edward IV's daughters/niece except Katherine and Bridget of York are wed (mostly to Tudor supporters).

Have at it.

EDIT: Cordwainer's son was Ralph Wulford claiming to be the "heir to the earl of Warwick".

You'd probably need Henry's reign to be more repressive, such that enough nobles convince themselves/pretend to believe that Perkin is the real King.
 
Or for the Sweating Sickness or something to carry off father and son.

Maybe, but then I'd imagine there'd be more of a free-for-all between various nobleman. Whereas, if Henry VII is still alive, his opponents would need to be united to drive him out, and Perkin Warbeck could provide a convenient rallying-point.
 
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